Las Vegas Fire & Rescue
Four people were injured, three of them critically, in a house fire north of Charleston and Lamb boulevards Monday, Nov. 16, 2015, according to Las Vegas Fire & Rescue officials.
Published Monday, Nov. 16, 2015 | 12:44 p.m.
Updated Monday, Nov. 16, 2015 | 4:50 p.m.
House fire
One person was dead and four injured after reports that a house exploded today in a neighborhood just north of Charleston and Lamb boulevards, authorities said.
Metro Police Officer Michael Rodriguez said a 911 caller reported an explosion just after 12:20 p.m. at a home on Sherrill Circle.
When firefighters arrived, they found a bleeding person with cuts and burns walking down the street and rendered aid, according to Las Vegas Fire & Rescue officials. That person was taken to University Medical Center in serious condition, officials said.
Two other people were located in front of a house next door with severe burns and were taken to the hospital in critical condition, officials said.
Another person, possibly somebody trying to help after spotting the fire, suffered smoke inhalation, officials said.
Firefighters discovered the deceased person inside the house at 52 Sherrill Circle; it took them about 10 minutes to bring the blaze under control, officials said.
Michael Contreras, 47, said he was waiting for his wife and friend outside a nearby bank when he saw smoke.
He said he drove to the scene, where he saw two women "hand-tied and duct-taped" outside with burns covering much of their bodies.
Contreras said he took off his coat to cover up one of the women and broke a window to see if anyone else was in the house.
"I kept screaming, 'Is there anybody out there?'" he said.
Metro homicide detectives were investigating, which is standard procedure whenever there is a fatal fire, officials said. Police couldn't immediately confirm Contreras' account.
The cause of the fire has not been determined, and a damage estimate was not immediately available.
Lamb Boulevard was closed in both directions from Charleston to Berkley Avenue, and the road was reopened about 3:30 p.m., according to Metro Police.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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